Radiographic unit



XR ZQQMV f Uf y if July 15, 1941. G. w. FILE-:s 2,248,976 J RADIOGRAPHQC UNIT' al' Filed` NQv". 17, 1939 mn/ENTOR.`

Ge/m lof/Wea BY I ATT NEY.

l l u possible to construct the same.

Patented July 15, 1941 Electric X-Ray Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a 'j A corporation of New/ York i My invention relates in general to photography and has more particular reference to photofluorography, that is to say, the making of 'photographie reproductions of images formed on luoroscopic screens under the influence of ,X-rays. ,v u

" In making photouorographic pictures on light sensitive film, Vit is ordinarily essential to utilize a. so-called fast lens and to utilize the entire lens area in order to obtain an impression on the light sensitive lm, since the fluoroscopic v`image to be photographed emits a relatively small amount of light. Consequently, at least two aberations affecting sharpness of detail in the resulting picture become apparent. These are coma, or spherical aberation of the oblique `rays passing the lens, and curvature lof the field,

that is to say, failure of the focal points of the oblique and axial rays to fall in a common plane. In order to conserve space, it is desirable, if

'not essential for practical reasons, to utilize a short liens-image distance of the order of six inches in arranging equipment for the photoglens-image distance or by stopping down the lens aperture, such expedients are not feasible, since lenses of the character required, having focal length sumciently great to eliminate aberation, would be excessively costly WereV it Furthermore, the use of such lenses of focal length suiiicient to eliminate aberation would require camera apparatus of prohibitive size. It is, (therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide for the use of fast lenses of relatively short focal length, in practical fashion, for the photography of screened images of relatively Weaklight intensity, by utilizing the lens at= its Vmaximum light transmitting eiiiciencyQlfvhile Another important object resides in prividing Application November 17,'1939, srialNoQs'oilcss l:i claims. jngctzso-sfi) photoiiuorographicl equipment for the production of coma and curvature free pictures, on flat light-sensitive plates, of images generated by X-rays on iiuoroscopic screens; a further object being to provide afluoroscopic screen for the purpose mentioned; a still further object being, for diagnostic purposes, to provide a fluo- `roscopic screenhaving cylindrical curvature.

These and numerous other objectsfadvantages, and inherent functions of the invention ,will become apparent as the invention is morev 'A fully understood froml the following description,

which, taken in connection With the accompanyf ing drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention. .l i .Referring to the drawing: A Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of fluoro-v -scopic equipment, including a source of X-ray,v a iiuoroscopic screen in position to be iniiuenced by X-rays from the source, and a camera positioned to photograph images generated on the screen in accordance with my present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the lens and the light Asensitive nlm, in the camera shown in Figure 1: 1

FigureS is a perspective View, showing the arrangement of parts forming a curved screen, in accordance with my present invention, for the photography of screen images;

Figure 4 is a sectional View of camera mechalnism embodying a nuoroscopic screen, in accordance with my present invention; and

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially along Ithe lines 5 5 and 6 6 in Figure4, ,i

- lWhere an image to be photographed is generated'on a fiat screen by means of a camera embodying a` lens, light rays originatinglothe 'y screen `and 'passing through the lens come to focus in a curved plane behind the lens and therefore cannot all be sharply focused upon light-sensitive material supported in a :dat plane behind the lens. The foregoing consideration gives rise to what is known as spherical abera- `tion and curvature of the iield. M

propose to rectify this condition by providing a curved screen structure ll, the concave face of the screen facing the camera lens A, and the curvature being of degree such that the 50 light rays L, emanating from remote points in the screen Il and passing through the lens assembly A, become focused in the flat plane of the film F, thus eliminating coma and spherical aberation. Obviously, my invention contemplates a screen H, curved spherically, so that anchored in place at the opening 23 by any suitable fastening means, such as the bolts 21 Which engage the frame and the ange 2I to secure the parts together.

The frame 25 preferably comprises a sheet say, in one direction only, since for diagnostic f Purposes, it is ordinarily sufficient to eliminate aberation along one axis only of the screen in order to produce a sharply focused Zone in the resulting picture. By curving the screen in one direction only, I am able to obtain photographs sharply focused throughout a medial zone exmetal structure of rectangular configuration within which is arranged, along the opposite sides of the frame, a pair of screen mounting blocks ze, the forward edges of which are straight, and

the rear edges 3i of which are curved in contending in the ends of the picture as well as in the central portions thereof, the lateral sides only showing aberational effects. For diagnostic purposes, it is usually, if not invariably, sufficient to produce aberation-free pictures extending to the edge of the picture at two of the oppositef'ends thereof only, although it is quite necessary, ii not essential, particularly, for example, in the examination of the apices of the lungs, `to be able to obtain pictures free from 'aberation in at least an edge portion of the picture Where the image of the apex of a lung may be obtained, it being difficult, if not impractical, because of the conguratin of the human body, to obtain pictures in which the image of the apices of rthe lung are Acentered. in the picture. 1 L,

The screen may comprise a panel or plate I3 zof suitable material which, when the-invention is applied to fluoroscopic work, may be any known material adapted to fluoresce under the influence of X-rays. curved uniformly between a pair of its opposed edges, preferably in cylindrical fashion, and, as "I shown in Figure 3, the panel may be mounted and supported in curved position in any suitable fashion, as on a frame I5, for rigidifying and maintaining the panel I3 in the desired curved configuration. The frame I5 may comprise binding isti-ips applied at the marginal edges of the panel I3, and a pair of the frame forming binding strips at opposite ends of the panel may be formed with handles to facilitate manipulation of the screen. The frame also may be formed with Ameans to facilitate the mounting of the screen, as on a support pedestal. v Y

The screen I3 may, of course, be formed as a unit entirely separate from the Acamera C, pro- .viding that no light other than that emanating from the screen be permitted to reach the lens A and be transmitted thence to the sensitive film .F. I prefer, however, to construct the camera, including the lens A, as a unit with the screen I I and to enclose the screen and the lens as an integral part of the camera, thereby permitting the same to be used without danger of fogging the film due to the penetration of extraneous light to the lens.V To this end, the lens A, as shown in Figure 4, is mounted within a' hollow sleeve-like and light tight box I1, at oneend of which is mounted the curved screen I3, the other ,end of the box being tted with a light tight support I9 in which the film, in a suitable cassette, may be removably supported in position for exposure.

'I'he sleeve-like box I'I may be constructed of any suitable material, such as wood, and is tapered from its larger end on which the screen I 3 is mounted towards its film-carrying end. The screen-carrying end of the box may be formed with an inwardly disposed flange 2l, defining an opening 23 Vupon which may be secured a sup- 'Ihe panel or plate I3 is preferablyY forinity with the curvature of the screen I3. A

pair of' mounting blocks 33 extend within and along the opposite sides of the frame in order to hold the blocks 29 in place within the frame.

VThe screen I3 is secured upon the curved edges SI of the blocks 29 by means of holding blocks 35, which are secured to the blocks 2'I by suitable fasteners which penetrate the edges of the screen i3 and hold the blocks 29 and 35 together on opposite sides of the screen.

A The screen and its holding blocks thus are assembled in the frame 25 and covered by a finish- -ingpanel 3l, which is held upon the frame by fastening screws 39 which penetrate the edges of the panel 3l and the inturned flanged end of the irai-ne 25, said fastening screws taking into and seating in the screen mounting blocks 29 and 33 in order to hold the same and the screen in place in the frame 25.

The film-carrying end of the box I'I is formed with an inturned flange 'lI defining an opening and the lens assembly A is supported Within the box on a panel d5 which is anchored in place, ,asl-y means of the molding 4l. The panel d5 has a central opening, carrying a sleeve 49 secured therein, the sleeve serving to receive and support the lens assembly, which may be clamped in adjusted position in the sleeve by means of the set screw 5i. The film holder I9 comprises a panel 52 formed with a central opening 53, and flange means 55 extending from the panel around the opening 53 in position to snugly and slidingly fit Within the opening 43 of the box, the edges defining said opening 43 being preferably tted with felt to provide a light tight joint with the sleeve 55. The edges of the panel 52, outwardly of the opening 53, and the flange 4I are provided with aligned openings for the reception of bolts 5l extending through the flange 43 and provided with the springs 59. The threaded ends of the bolts are adapted to penetrate ,through the openings in the panel 52 as the same is assembled in the opening 113, the panel 52 being held in place by nuts GI applied on the projecting ends `of the bolts 5l. rfhe panel 52 carries grooved flanges 63 on opposite sides of the opening 52 and a bottom stop 65, the flanges and stop servl ing to slidably receive and support a film cassette or plate holder El in position opposite tlbpenl ing 53. The nlm holderl may be of any suitable or preferred forni, providing a seat for a light- The box I 'I may, of course, be provided with any suitable means for supporting the same in operative position, such means usually comprising brackets Sil fastened thereon approximately opposite the center of gravity of the box, and

port frame V25 for the screen I3, the frame being "I5 these brackets may be formed for attachment on i any support means on which it may be desired to mount the apparatus.

The utilization of a curved screen I3, in accordance with the teachings of my present invention, does not, to any appreciable degree, distort the image generated thereon as a result of Xray impingement from the source X, but the use of such a curved screen material notably in the ,frm, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacricing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of demonstrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A camera for the photography of screened images, comprising a light tight housing and support means for mounting light-sensitive photographic material at one end of the housing in position for exposure, a screen comprising a layer of material adapted to fluoresce under the influence of X-rays mounted on said housing in spaced relationship with respect to said support means,

and a lens assembly mounted in the housing between said screen and said support means in position to focus light rays emanating from said screen upon light-sensitive material positioned in said support means, said screen having concave fc'urvature facing said lens, the curvature being of such degree that a plurality of remote points therein may be focused by said lens upon corresponding points in the light-sensitive material.

2. A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein 'said screen is assembled in a cell secured in light tight fashion at an opening in the end of the housing remote from the support means, said screen comprising a curved panel secured at its marginal edges between co-operating mounting blocks forming a frame, a flanged rim enclosing said frame, and means to secure said rim on said housing with the concave side of the panel facing into the housing and a cover piece secured on said rim in position to enclose the convex surface of said panel in the cell, said cover piece comprising material pervious to X-rays.

3. A camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein -.said screen comprises a panel secured at its marginal edges in a frame forming a cell adapted for light tight attachment at an opening in the end of the housing remote from said support means, and a cover piece secured on said frame in position to enclose said panel in the cell, said i cover piece comprising material pervious to X- rays. g'

GLENN W. FLES. 

